Paddington, Scout and the Bear Painting

SCOUT: "Now, this is a painting I like, Paddy!"

 

PADDY: "Oh yes, it's lovely, Scout! Such pretty colours!"

 

SCOUT: "Yes Paddy! Including my favourite colour, pink! That's why I like it, oh, and there are no window lickers in it either! Yuck!" *Sticks out cute little pink bear tongue.*

 

PADDY: "Scout, like I said before, in French, window shopping is called ‘lèche vitrine’ which translates to English literally as ‘window licking’. However, Parisians don't actually lick the windows when they are window shopping."

 

SCOUT: "Well, I'm glad they don't Paddy! if they did, they would all have upset tummies, and then they couldn't eat all the nice French biscuits and pat... patis..."

 

PADDY: "Patisseries, Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "Yummy cakes! I wonder if they have a yummy cake shop here at the Bendigo Art Gallery. All this art appreciation is giving me a grumbly tummy! Grumbly tummy, Paddy! Grumbly tummy!" *Rubs tummy vigorously.*

 

PADDY: "We'll go and eat in the gallery café, once we reach the end of the exhibition, Scout, and that isn't too far away now."

 

SCOUT: "Do you know what else I like about this painting, Paddy?"

 

PADDY: "No. Tell me Scout, why else you like it?"

 

SCOUT: "Well, because it has obviously been painted by a bear."

 

PADDY: "A bear, Scout? How can you tell?"

 

SCOUT: "Well, just look at the strokes in the painting! It is not terribly tine, like some other paintings in this exhibition, and you can see his... or her fur marks in the paint."

 

PADDY: "Well, I think those marks are more likely to come from an artist's brush, not a bear paw, Scout. And the style is called Pointillism."

 

SCOUT: "Gesundheit, Paddy! Goodness, are you standing in a draught?"

 

PADDY: "No, no, Scout! That wasn't a sneeze! Pointillism is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image."

 

SCOUT: "Well, it still could have been painted by a bear, Paddy!"

 

PADDY: "I don't think so, Scout. This is a human artists exhibition, but let me go and check the label." *Goes to explanatory note and reads.* "No. I'm sorry to disappoint you, Scout, but it says that this painting was done by the artist Stanislas Lépine in 1884."

 

SCOUT: "Well, what is to say that Stanislas Lépine wasn't a bear? Does it say on that plaque that Stanislas Lépine is not a bear?"

 

PADDY: "Well no, Scout. but like I said, this exhibition is made up of human artists."

 

SCOUT: "But you said yourself, Paddy, that some of the expl... exxplan..."

 

PADDY: "Explanatory, Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "Some of the notes explaining things are wrong, like window lickers not really being window lickers, but shoppers."

 

PADDY: "That was about interpretation of language, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Well, this is about interpretation too, Paddy!" *Nods seriously.*

 

PADDY: "How so, Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "Well, the way I see it, or interpret it, is that this spotty and dotty painting is by Stanislas Lépine, and Stanislas Lépine was definitely a bear! You can tell by his paw strokes in the paint!" *Nods seriously.*

 

PADDY: "Oh very well, Scout. Interpretation is a very personal thing, I suppose." *Shakes head.*

 

SCOUT: "Thank you Paddy!" *Smiles.* "Daddy! Daddy!"

 

DADDY: "Yes, Scout? Are you alright?"

 

SCOUT: "Of course I'm alright, Daddy! I was just admiring this beautiful painting by Stanislas Lépine the bear."

 

DADDY: "Yes, it's called 'Pont des Arts from Pont Royal'." *Pauses.* "The bear, Scout?"

 

SCOUT: "Yes Daddy!" *Nods seriously.* "Stanislas Lépine was a bear, you know."

 

DADDY: "No, I didn't know that, Scout." *Doubtful.*

 

SCOUT: "Well he was, Daddy. You can tell by his paw strokes in the paint." *Points to brushstrokes.* "You can see his fur in the paint. I am so proud that a bear other than mijn beste vriend Peter, and my very, very, very good friend Spencer can paint as well as I can."

 

DADDY: "Well, it certainly is very beautiful, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Can you take a picture of Paddy and I in front of the bear painting, please, Daddy?"

 

DADDY: "Yes, of course, Scout. Alright, when I count to three, say ‘grumbly tummies’.”

 

PADDY and SCOUT: “Yes Daddy!”

 

DADDY: “One… two… three…”

 

PADDY and SCOUT: “Grumbly tummies!”

 

*Camera goes click and whirr.*

 

Two weekends ago, Paddy, Scout and I went to the Bendigo Art Gallery to view the ‘Paris: Impressions of Life 1880 – 1925’ exhibition. Exclusive to Bendigo Art Gallery, the ‘Paris: Impressions of Life 1880–1925’ exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the lively and picturesque streets of historic Paris. Tour seven themed pathways and discover artisan street signs, historic couture, decorative arts, and everyday ephemera alongside paintings by artists including Jean Béraud, the pre-eminent painter of Parisian life in the Belle Époque, Maurice Utrillo and Paul Signac, pioneer of the artistic technique of pointillism, as well as vibrant graphic prints by Toulouse-Lautrec and his contemporaries.

 

This Pointillist piece 'Pont des Arts from Pont Royal' by Stanislas Lépine (1835 – 1892) was painted using oils on canvas around 1884. The painting depicts the view of Pont des Arts and the Cathedral of Notre Dame from Pont Royal.

 

My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.

 

He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.

 

Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.

Done